Impact of Frying and Storage on Sensory, Cognitive, and Consumer Perception of Chayote Chips Using Static and Dynamic Sensometric Techniques

The objective of this research was to apply static and dynamic sensometric techniques to determine the impact of processing factors (dehydration time, frying exposure time) and storage duration on the sensory and cognitive characteristics, as well as consumer preference, of chayote chips. A total of 18 types of chips were prepared (using a combination of three frying temperatures [140, 150, 160 °C], two exposure times [5 and 10 s], and three periods of storage [0, 30, and 60 days]). A panel of 100 consumers was formed to evaluate sensory and cognitive attributes (emotions and memories) as well as overall liking, using static techniques such as Rate-All-That-Apply (RATA), Check-All-That-Apply (CATA), and a hedonic scale. Finally, the temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) dynamic technique was used to study the behavior of chips with higher levels of preference. The results of the sensory techniques indicated that the storage day factor influenced the sensory results. The samples prepared on the same day were perceived with high intensities of typical attributes of this type of food (bitter-BT, Fried-A, Sweet-A, Potato-A, Toasted-A, Chayote-A, Potato-F, Crunchy, Chayote-F, and Sweet-BT) while evoking positive emotions and memories in consumers (active, enthusiastic, free, good, good nature, happy, interested, satisfied, traditional food, family, summer, party, and mild weather). In terms of preference, consumers selected the chip samples with 0 days of storage. The TDS curves determined that the dominant attributes of the chayote chips with 0 days of storage were chayote flavor, sweet, and fried (with a dominance t = 5–20 s). Regarding the cognitive aspect, these chayote chips evoke positive dominant emotions (good, satisfied, and happy from t = 8–20 s) as well as dominant positive memories of childhood (t = 9–20 s), traditional food (t = 11–20 s), and friendship (t = 11–20 s).